On the way back to the truck, he popped into Sugar Daddy’s to get the cinnamon rolls Gamma had raved about. A cheerful woman waved as he stepped in.
“What looks good today?” she asked pertly.
“Maya! What did I tell you about trying suggestive slogans on the clientele?” A burly, bearded dude scolded from the galley doorway.
“Sorry, just trying to put a little fun in my day. You didn’t mind, sir?”
Eli shook his head. “It’s fine. I’ll have a dozen cinnamon rolls and four éclairs.”
Just in case somebody doesn’t like cinnamon rolls. This might be the equivalent of his last meal, after all.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“Come with me,” eli said.
Unexpectedly, he’d rung the doorbell instead of letting himself in. When Iris answered, he gave her the sweetest smile, making her heart flutter.
It was early evening, and she had a lot to do, but nothing more important than this moment. He stood on the front porch with an unfamiliar look, an expression somewhere between mischief and tenderness. She smiled and took his outstretched hand, content to let him surprise her.
But she didn’t expect him to lead her out to his truck. “Where are we going?” she asked.
“It’s a surprise.”
She didn’t push for details since that might spoil the mood, and she was so happy about being swept away that she let it happen with delight popping like corn kernels in a hot pan. Soon, Eli parked next to the river. At night, it was quiet and romantic with the yellow lamps glowing along the walkway, but the chilly temperature kept most everyone else indoors. He got out of the truck and opened her door for her, and she had no idea what to expect, so she was properly startled when he dropped the truck’s tailgate. Inside, there were a couple of blankets and an insulated chest, probably to keep something warm.
“Starlight picnic,” she guessed.
“It’s nothing special. Just some fresh cinnamon rolls and a thermos full of coffee. I thought you could use a break.” Eli vaulted into the back of the truck and pulled her up beside him. “Hope this is okay?”
“It’s perfect. I don’t want to think about anything right now.”
“Cinnamon roll?”
She took the soft, gooey pastry and peeled it apart, nibbling until she had only the soft, sweet core left. Afterward, she licked her sticky fingers and washed the treat down with hot coffee. Eli watched her with a smile, like he could sate his hunger with her satisfaction. Iris leaned in for a kiss, and he moaned against her mouth. He cupped the nape of her neck, fingers dragging through her hair, and his touch sent shivers down her spine. Their kisses drew out, at first delicate like the tremulous notes of a flute, and then they surged into operatic territory, leaving Iris breathless when Eli drew back.
“I could easily lose myself in you,” he whispered.
“Same. But I don’t want our first time to be—”
“In the back of my truck?” He laughed. “Me either. Want to cuddle for a bit?”
“I’d love that.”
Iris knee-walked until she could settle between Eli’s legs, and he drew her against his chest, linking his arms to make her feel even warmer and more cherished. Between the blankets, the warm drink, and Eli, she couldn’t feel any cozier. Despite the general messiness of her situation—complaints being filed and another card gone to collections—she still let out a happy sigh.
“Comfortable?” he asked, his voice deep with amusement.
“Extremely.”
“I know you have other stuff on your mind, but…have you learned anything more about your fae heritage?”
“Not really. There’s a lot of lore, but the fae are incredibly reclusive, so the stories are impossible for me to verify.”
She lapsed into silence, and Eli didn’t push—a fact she appreciated. Just snuggling with him and looking at the stars, Iris felt like the luckiest person in the world.
All too soon, he stirred and touched her cheek. “You’re getting cold, even with the blanket. We should get home.”
Home. Hearing him use that word for Violet Gables brightened her mood even more.
“I’m all fueled up. Whatever comes next, I can take it.”
In quiet accord, they drove home in contemplative silence. Eli headed upstairs to take care of some business, and Iris decided to spoil him with a cup of hot tea. It was nothing compared to his surprise, but she’d gotten to stay toasty warm in his arms while he leaned against the cold metal of the truck. He could probably use some warming up.
She came upstairs quietly and was about to knock on his door when she hesitated. Because she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Or rather, she didn’t want to. But she was standing outside Eli’s room and he was definitely saying, “Are you sure twenty-five grand is enough? I’m happy to pay twice that if you can perform the spell right away.”
He has…fifty grand?
Dazed and confused, she stumbled upstairs and set the tea cup on her work table with trembling hands, feeling shaky and queasy at the same time. Nothing made sense, and as she opened her laptop on automatic—because that was what she always did, checked on her shop—she found herself keying in the name Eli Reese and popular apps. To her astonishment, he popped up in a few feature articles, and he had a freaking Wiki page. Realization hit her like a fist in the gut.
He wasn’t somebody who needed to rent a room from her. Why the hell is he even here? The sense of betrayal hit her so hard that she almost threw up, quivering in reaction. God, he must’ve laughed at her pathetic efforts, trying to get her life together. How much money does he have anyway?
Fuck.
FUCK.
No damn wonder he was always offering to pay for shit. She felt like screaming or punching him or both. Her face felt hot with humiliation, and she fought back tears—rage, sorrow—so many emotions. Nothing about him made any sense whatsoever. She read more, learning facts he should have shared himself.
Her rage ballooned.
She had to nix whatever backdoor deal he’d arranged with Ethel and Mira’s coven. Like hell was she okay with Eli waltzing in like a big shot and just…taking over. With his bullshit secret rich guy entitlement. Hmm. Maybe that didn’t entirely make sense, but when Iris was this angry, making her thoughts flow in a straight line was freaking tough.
She stormed downstairs, ready to let him have a piece of her mind. But Eli was on another call, and this time, he was arguing with someone. “I don’t give a damn. I can’t leave right now, and that’s final.” A pause. “My answer would be the same even if it was ten million, Liz. Just tell AroTech there’s no deal. I’m needed here, understand?”
Those words eviscerated her. Iris took a breath, another.
Not only am I a failure, I’m dragging Eli down with me.
Her righteous indignation yielded to an emotion altogether more painful. She tiptoed back to her room and gave in to heartbreak.
Iris wept. For the future she’d imagined they were building together and for everything he’d hidden while pretending to be one of them. Eli didn’t belong on her island of misfit toys, and he never had. Even if she could forgive him for hiding such crucial information, there was no way she could picture herself beside somebody like him. A relationship between them would be too much like charity or pity or, hell, she didn’t know what. Them being together made no sense at all.